Dear God, what am I supposed to do?

8/16/2019 Dear God, what am I supposed to do?

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Copyright 2015 by Myrtle Pettit

Scripture is from King James Version

Cover esign by !avi "erthiaume #e$t esign by %reg Solie & 'ltamont

%raphics (S") *+,-1-./52-

++0-5

Whatever your cross, Whatever

your pain,There will always be

sunshine after the rain…

Perhaps you may

stumble, perhaps even


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fall;But God’s always

ready to answer your

call…

He nows every heartache, sees every

tear, ! word from His lips

can calm every fear…

"our sorrows may lin#er throu#hout theni#ht, But suddenly

vanishby dawn’s early

li#ht$

The %avior iswaitin# somewhere

aboveTo #ive you His

#race and send youHis love$

—Author Unknown

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This is my simple #ift to "ou, a toen ofmy love for "ou$ Thou#h it may seem sosmall, please tae it and use it for "our#lory$ &old it in "our hands$ &ae it amasterpiece that will touch people’slives and draw them close to "ou$

Writin# this has been a 'ourney of faithfor me, to learn important lessons from

"ou and open my heart to share theseine(haustible treasures with "our chil)dren, also searchin# for answers$

Bless them, eep them, teach them,#uide them, and bind them in "our heart$ This * pray, in the name of the

+amb of God that was slain from thefoundation of the world, esus -hrist$ !men$


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M y heartfelt thans to each of you& Juy Jennings3 4ho mae this boo possible

& Kevin 6ahl3 for his brilliant eiting sillsthat mole my craft an ept my voiceintact 'n to !ana 6illiams for the initialrevisions

& Chris Chung3 'lena 6ehr3 an %reg7melaner3 4ho 8rst accepte the pro9ect3an gave their guiance an soun avice

& !avi "erthiaume3 4ho mae the beautifulcover3 4ith a girl that loos lie me 'n to

'ltamont %raphics3 for their great formattinge$pertise

& #o "arry 'ams3 :eata Striclan3 ;arolKushner3 Philip Mrs

:ichar !ana3 Mr > Mrs :ichar Mills3"rother :en4ic Purcell3 Sister Cheryl > 'ira7sson3 Sister Polly > Marley Clar3 Ms "3Sister Cooper3 Sister %ay- nelle3 )ana >'nnette

• #o my family3 colleagues an friens7vaine #hompson3 6il- liam !avis3 MichaelPettit Sr3 Christine Pettit3 :ose %resser37en %unter3 7vangeline Puehringer3

7bene?er Son3 !ebbie Sutton3 'leli%amaro3 Kim !i?on3 @i?a Auinto3 'my


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:eyes3 JacBueline rlino3 :ica PaulaCorrea3 Michelle #angub3 Jan Corte?3Cristina %abriel3 Sha4n :ae3 Masao%riDith3 Kyoo Murayama3 ;olly "abui3

'my 'llen3 Jessica @e4insi3 !any Culau3an in family

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& #o my mother-in-la43 'nnMarie3 4ho toothe time to rea the manuscript anencourage my pursuit

& #o the love of my life3 my husban Mie34hose love3 patience an untiring supportmae this iea tangible

& #o my mom3 Marlene3 for the inspiration3 forsharing the faith an the vision3 an forraising me to love boos an 4rite one

& 'n most of all3 to %o3 4hose lovingmessage is 4ritten upon our hearts3 4hosepromises are sure an steafast3 an 4hoinvites us to be heirs of ;is ingom


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.

(ntrouction *

1 Search for Meaning 11

2 Kno4


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+5

, 'ccept


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ave you ever felt lost. Perhaps your worldsuddenly came crashin# down and you don’t now what to do$ "ou feel sha) en,discoura#ed, and hopeless$ The bitter reality of what is

now and yet to come is slowly creepin# in, and fear robs you of life and the coura#e to live$ Time and timea#ain, profound yet perple(in# /ues) tions continue to

arise$

H


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= &=

(n this trouble 4orl3 4e are bombare 4ithBuestions to lifeFs painful realities that rob us of 9oyan leave our hearts empty 6e begin to loo arounus3 an only capture the reaful scenes crush- ingmanFs very soul3 pushing sanity to its very limits 4hilesilently taing toll on human life "ut even if 4e 4ala4ay from those very scenes3 4hen 4e loo insieourselves 4e utter the same ol Buestion 4ith anearnest plea an searching eyes G%o3 4hat am (suppose to o 4ith my lifeHI 6hile 4eFre neelingo4n upon the earth3 tears fall as 4e loo up toheaven hoping for some grace to refresh our

o4ntroen spiritur hearts humbly cry3 unhear by those aroun

us3 but this is not so 4ith %o Eor every 4or thatfalls from our lips ;e hears3 even those that areunspoen3 hien in our hearts3 an the very thoughtsembee in our mins ;is 4ors are true #hey arelife ;is promises are sure an steafast 'n ;e isvery near to those 4ho are broenhearte ancrushe in spirit Psalm /1,3 to comfort them in all

their troubles3 that they may also comfort others 4iththe comfort they have receive from %o 2Corinthians 1

Jesus3 the Savior of manin3 o4ne us from thebeginning3 an reeeme us again that 4e may havelife=the life eternal #hough our present life afflicts us4ith pain an suffering3 ;e bis us3 G@et not yourheart be trouble ye believe in %o3 believe also in

Me (n my EatherFs house are many mansions if it4ere not so ( 4oul have tol you ( go to prepare aplace for you 'n if ( go an prepare a

*

place for you3 ( 4ill come again3 an receive youunto MyselfL that 4here ( am3 there ye may be alsoI


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John 11/

Sometimes 4e have to loo beyon ourselves tosee the greater purpose an the greater plan3 to

behol the ma9esty of %o an the promise to share in;is eternal glory see 1 Peter 510

10


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Search for

Meaningur 4orl toay cries out of human misery3 of confouning catastrophes an callouse society3of values change3 capri- cious relationshipsevelope3 an lives live frivolously 6e

live in G#he Parao$ of ur 'geI 1

6e have taller builings3 but shorter tempersL4ier free- 4ays3 but narro4er vie4pointsL 4espen more3 but have lessL 4e buy more3 buten9oy it less

6e have bigger houses an smaller familiesLmore conve- niences3 but less timeL 4e havemore egrees3 but less senseL more no4lege3but less 9ugmentL more e$perts3 yet more

problemsL more meicine3 but less 4ellnessL 4etae more vi- tamins but see fe4er results

6e rin too muchL smoe too muchL spentoo recless- lyL laugh too littleL rive too fastLget angry too BuiclyL stay up too lateL get uptoo tireL rea too selomL 4atch #V too much3an pray too selom

6e have multiplie our possessions3 but reuce

our valuesL 4e fly in faster planes to arrive thereBuicer3 to o less an return soonerL 4e signmore contracts only to reali?e fe4er profits 6etal too muchL love too selom3 an lie too often6eFve learne ho4 to mae a living3 but not alifeL 4eFve a- e years to life3 not life to years

6eFve been all the 4ay to the moon an bac3but have trouble crossing the street to meet

the ne4 neighbor 6eFve con- Buere outerspace3 but not inner spaceL 4eFve one larger


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1 "ob Moorehea3 Words !ptly %poen Kirlan3 6' verlae Christian Press31**53 pp 1*+3 1*,

11

things3 but not better thingsL 4eFve cleane upthe air3 but pollute the soulL 4eFve split theatom3 but not our pre9uice

6e 4rite more3 but learn lessL 4e plan more3 butaccomplish lessL 4e mae faster planes but

longer linesL 4eFve learne to rush3 but not to4aitL 4e have higher incomes3 but lo4er moralsLmore parties3 but less funL more foo3 but lessap- peasementL more acBuaintances3 but fe4erfriensL more ef- fort but less success 6e builmore computers to hol more information3 toprouce more copies than ever3 but have lesscommunicationL 4eFve become long onBuantity3 but short on Buality

#hese are the times of fast foos an slo4igestionL tall men3 an short characterL steepin profits3 but shallo4 rela- tionships #hese arethe times of 4orl peace3 but omestic 4arfareLmore leisure an less funL more ins of foo3but less nutrition

#hese are ays of t4o incomes3 but moreivorcesL these are the times of fancier houses3but broen homes #hese are ays of Buic trips3isposable iapers3 thro4-a4ay morality3 one-night stans3 over4eight boies3 an pills thato everything from cheer to Buiet or ill

(t is a time 4hen there is much in the sho44ino4 an nothing in the stocroom

#he meaning of our e$istence has become confineto our 4orl- ly vie43 perceive in the munane

humrum of life Slo4ly an rugingly3 life becomesreary an meaningless as 4e fail to loo beyon


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ourselves an our present circumstance(t is 4hen 4e trust an epen only on ourselves

that 4e choose to fight our battles alone3 4ith ourvery o4n strength an resources 'n 4e often o3

pushing ourselves to our 4itFs en until 4e are tirean broen "ecause 4e are so influence by thepostmoern culture of self-help3 self-improvement3an self-reliance3 4e forget that 4e cannot stanalone 6e sever the ties that strengthen us an form abon of trust an love 6e are too afrai to bevulnerable3 to trust in

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anything=our family3 or even %o So 4e try to forgetthe problems that beset us3 4hile 4e en9oy thecompany of friens or strangers to give us momentarypleasure an 9oy (tFs only 4hen 4e are 4oune inthe battle that 4e reali?e 4e nee to come home anas for help G 4retche man that ( amN 4ho shalleliver me from the boy of this eathHI :omans+2 6e become lie the long-lost son 4ho le a

4ay4ar life3 4ishing to come home to be receive4ith mercy an forgiveness GEather3 ( have sinneagainst heaven3 an before thee3 an am no more4orthy to be calle thy sonI @ue 151,3 1*

!issatisfaction 4ith his former life an oubt of hisfatherFs pro- tective nature mae him become morepersistent to fin freeom an satisfaction in the lifehe ha been longing to live "ut 4hen he 4ale a4ayfrom home3 he never ne4 4hat it 4oul be lie tolive out in the 4orl (ts pleasure at first entice him

;e succumbe to it3 until it slo4ly estroye him;ungry an broen 4ith no place to rest3 he she

bitter tears as he gulpe the slop 4ith the s4ine he4as feeing ;o4 heartrening an mournful to seethat his elation vanishe into anguish3 his prieplummete to lo4liness

(n ays of prosperity3 friens floce aroun him tofeast an rin at his e$pense "ut so-calle friensfle a4ay 4hen his substance 4ere reuce to amere pittance )o boisterous laughter3 no thrillingance3 no song of celebration hear=9ust the silence


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of grief ;umble by his blea circumstance3 4ith noplace to rest3 no foo to eat3 his 4ill 4ea an his finerfeelings seemingly ea3 he felt crushe by the4retcheness of his o4nfall

;e ne4 that he thought only of himself 'n helive for himself alone ;e became utterly lost3 aproigal son 4anering in an unno4n lan )o4 he4as about to learn the greatest lesson of his life3 lie asinner separate from %o "ut it taught him avaluable principle to live by G6hatever theappearance may be3 every life centere in self issBuanere 6hoever attempts to live apart from %ois 4asting his substance ;e is sBuanering theprecious years3 sBuanering the po4ers of min an

heart an soul3 an 4oring to mae himself banruptfor eternityI 7llen % 6hite3 -hrist’s 0b'ect +essons3pp 2003 201 "ut there 4ill al4ays come a time 4henone 4ill reali?e his egraation 's i Solomon3 the4isest ing 4ho ever live3 unrivale in po4er3 riches3an ominion uring his time3 authore thousans of proverbs an songs3 speciali?e in various

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branches of no4lege an learning3 ne4 more4omen than any- oneL in all his splenor3 he groane3GVanity of vanities3 O vanity of vanitiesL all is vanityI7cclesiastes 12

(n the sonFs ab9ect poverty3 the young manremembere his father #hough ol in years3 hegoverne his househol 4ith love3 care3 an gooprovience 't last3 the s4eet memory of homebrought comfort to his misery n his feet3 he starteto 4al an trea the forgotten path3 etermine toconfess his guilt an beg to tae a ser- vantFs place;e rehearse again an again the 4ors he 4as aboutto say 6oul someone still remember himH ;e looeat himself ;is appearance looe 4aste3 his clothes4orn out ;e 4asnFt the same person 4ho left hisfatherFs househol

"ut far in the istance3 a man graye 4ith years

4as 4aiting tire- lessly each ay for his long-lost sonto come home #his man recogni?e him (n


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4retcheness3 the proigal crie out3 GEather3 ( havesinne against heaven an in thy sight3 am no more4orthy to be calle thy sonI

#ears flo4e relentlessly "ut there 4as no time to

beg ;is father commane the servant3 G"ring forththe best robe3 put it on himL put a ring on his han3an shoes on his feet an bring hither the fatte calf3an ill itL an let us eat3 an be merry for this myson 4as ea3 an is alive againL he 4as lost3 an isfounI @ue 15222

%o3 in ;is everlasting love3 has compassion onevery soul that comes to ;im3 no matter 4hat his pastmay be ;eaven re9oices even for one lost soul thathas foun the 4ay home see @ue 1510

1!ma2in# #race3 How sweet the sound, that saved a wretched lie me3 * once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now * see$4

(tFs a po4erful song that has captivate humanhearts=the com- pelling story of the conversion of a

famous hymn 4riter3 John )e4- ton 2 ;e live a lifeencroache on misery3 violence3 an torment


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promise to change his life ' fe4 years after thestorm3 he left the slave trae an stuie to become aminister ;e pursue his passion of 4riting hymns /

(n 1++23 he 4rote a song entitle GEaithFs :evie4

an 7$pectationI in the soun of a native 'fricanmeloy slaves often humme Since then3 it hasinspire the 4orl an has reechoe throughout time

(t became perhaps the most popular song in thehistory3 the most recogni?able an mostrecore3 the song no4 no4n as 'ma?ing%race O (t remins us of a %o of mercy 4hostill lights the 4ay of the lost an the blin 5

%o has the po4er to transform a man an reeemthe most neg- ative of his e$periences3 his biggestmistae an greatest 4eaness ;e can turn a colslave traer into a compassionate man to fight forfreeom of the captives 7ven for the most 4retcheman3 there is hope

6ritten on his tombstone is a po4erful testimonyGJohn )e4- ton3 Cler3 once an infiel an libertine3 aservant of slaves in 'frica3 4as3 by the rich mercy of

our @or an Saviour Jesus Christ3 pre- serve3restore3 parone3 an appointe to preach the faith

he ha long labore to estroyI . ;e recogni?e%oFs ama?ing graceN

'nyone can be lost an perhaps lose their self-4orth3 but not in %oFs eyes :emember3 )o matterho4 far you run a4ay from %o3 ;e is 9ust a prayera4ay #hough it might have been a long empty

/ (bi

Karlee-'nne Sapo?ni3 G( once 4as lost3 but no4 am foun 6asblin3 but no4 ( seeI :evisiting the Story behin Eormer SlaveShip Captain John )e4tonFs !ma2) in# Grace Ph! iss3


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9ourney to estruction3 there is still a 4ay to live3 to

come bac home %o is 4aiting to give ;is lostchilren a 4arm3 4elcoming embrace

(tFs not in ourselves that 4e can fin meaning3 for4e are as filthy rags )either is it in the things 4epossess3 for they get robbe or ruine see Matthe4.1*3 nor in momentary pleasures or fame3 for theytoo pass a4ay (n seeing to behol the glimpse of truth3 heaven opene its gates tremenously to fill theearth 4ith its ivine love an graciously illuminate

4ith ChristFs righteousness Jesus Christ3 the Prince of peace 4orshippe by the heavenly host3 humbly cameo4n to earth to restore in us the lost image of %o3to brea the shacles of sin by 4hich 4e are boun3 toreestablish our connection 4ith the Eather3 to fulfillthe la43 an to give us the hope of eternal life

#he very truth rang from the founations of theearth GSo %o create man in ;is o4n image3 inthe image of %o create ;e himL male an femalecreate ;e themI %enesis 12+ Man3 fear- fully an

4onerfully mae Psalm 1/*1 is the cro4ning4or of %oFs creation

#he %o of the universe3 the omnipotent all-po4erful ne3 the ever omniscient all-no4ing anomnipresent every4here an at all times remainsour heavenly Eather even toay ;e never changes;e is the same forever

(n ;im is life3 for Gin ;im 4e live3 an move3 anhave our beingI 'cts 1+2 7very fiber of our beingtestifies of %oFs magnificent hani4or #hough ;e isoften misrepresente3 ;e hopes that 4e 4ill no4 ;immore3 en9oy our fello4ship 4ith ;im3 an open ourhearts to a 4onerful Savior 4ho gave ;is life toreeem you an me Christ hien in our hearts is atreasure more than 4e can ever comprehen

ur value here on earth is uncertain3 but in ;im 4ebecome a priceless treasure3 as Ggol trie in thefireI Eor gol is only perfecte 4hen the image of the:efiner is reflecte in it 6e are strengthene by the

promise that ;is Ggrace is suDicientI for us all 2Corinthians


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12*3 an 4ith faith holing on to ;im3 no4ing thatGthe sufferings of this present time are not 4orthy tobe compare 4ith the glory 4hich shall be reveale inusI :omans ,1, Eor 4hen Christ shall come in ;is

full glory to receive ;is faithful servants in the clousof heaven3 all pain an suffering this earth has cause4ill vanish a4ay

Paul spoe strongly3 GEor ( am persuae3 thatneither eath3 nor life3 nor angels3 nor principalities3nor po4ers3 nor things present3 nor

1.

things to come3 nor height3 nor epth3 nor any othercreature3 shall be able to separate us from the love of %o3 4hich is in Christ Jesus our @orI :omans ,/,3/*

's 4e trea each ay3 let our eyes ga?e not on thepath4ay of this earth3 but let our eyes be fi$e onlyon heaven3 Glooing unto Jesus the 'uthor an Einisherof our faithL 4ho for the 9oy that 4as set before ;im

enure the cross3 espising the shame3 an is seto4n at the right han of the throne of %oI ;ebre4s122


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1+


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Know YourPurpose

here are many Buestions about life that areconfouning3 but perhaps the most confouningis to no4 oneFs lifeFs very purpose #here aretimes in our lives 4hen 4e as ourselves3

G6hat am ( here forHI or G6hy am ( on this earthHIElashbacs of our e$periences are revie4e in min3as 4e hope to fin meaning in bits an pieces of oure$istence

' poignant Buestion 4as ase by :on Jenson1**, to the top leaers of the 4orl G't the en of your life3 ho4 4ill you no4 you succeeeHI Peopleans4ere ifferently G(f my is turne out 4ellI G(f ( positively change livesI G(f ( built meaningful aneep relationshipsI G(f ( really love my spouseI G(f (mae a if- ferenceI (nterestingly3 none of themans4ere3 about money3 fame3 or po4er +

' similar but broaer stuy pertaining to

aspirations3 ilemmas3 an personal philosophies3 co-le by :obert Kenny3 7! an his col- leagues3 4as

#


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conucte by the Center on 6ealth an Philanthropy

at "oston College3 Massachusetts , nline3 theysurveye 1.5 house- hols anonymously aboutmoney an its significance #hey foun that though

many aspects in peopleFs lives 4ere ease by money3it mae other aspects more iDicult

(t prompte them to move their research further4hen &oni) tor spoe to Kenney about his finings #hey tailore a ne4 stuy for 4ealthy families havingan actual net 4orth of 25 million or more 4ith onlyfive Buestions capturing their insight about theirmotivation in life #hey ase3 G6hat is the greatestaspiration for your lifeHI #hey 4ere then ase the

secon Buestion3 G6hatFs your greatest aspiration foryour chilrenHI #hirly3 G6hatFs your greatestaspiration for the 4orlHI #hen3 G;o4 oes yourmoney help

+ :on Jenson3 &ae a +ife, 5ot ust a +ivin# )ashville3 #) "roaman > ;olmanPublishers3 1**,

, 'my )ovotney3 GMoney canFt buy happinessI 'P' JulyQ'ugust20123 Vol /3 )o +

1*

4ith your greatest aspirationHI Einally3 G;o4 oes money getin your 4ayHI *

#he ans4ers 4ere simple3 the greatest aspirationfor the ma9ority 4as to be a goo parent #hey 4ere4orrie about ho4 their chilren 4oul turn out #hey also ans4ere that their money gave them

opportunities to choose goo schools for theirchilren3 to travel3 an participate in varie activitiesan e$periences3 an 4as help- ful for security

purposes 10 #hey acno4lege that there 4ere alsoo4nsies of having so much money as 4ell #hefeeling of isolation 4as the most common problemthey e$perience 6hen they tale about theiraspiration for their chilren3 they share concernsabout their chilrenFs motivation3 4hether they 4oul

live meaningful lives an mae their 4orl a betterplace 11 Perhaps3 these 4erenFt the ans4ers the


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researchers 4ere looing for3 but they 4ereastonishe to fin a plain an open isclosure thate$presse the importance of purpose an meaning inlife

;arol Kushner3 author of the boo When !ll "ou’ve9ver Want) ed *sn’t 9nou#h3 share a compellingthought G( believe that it is not ying that people areafrai of Something else Something more un- settlingan more tragic than ying frightens us 6eFre afraiof never having live f coming to the en of ourays 4ith the sense that 4e 4ere never really alive #hat 4e never figure out 4hat life 4as forI 12

People often measure a man by status3 egree3

achievement3 po4- er3 fame3 or money "ut in the en3all these o not matter (tFs not about ho4 much hehas3 but ho4 many lives he toucheL nor 4hether hesucceee3 but 4hether he live a meaningful life

The &easure of a &an 1/ 4as 4ritten poignantly by anunno4n author3 4hich e$- presse 4isom in theimportant things in life

15ot:How did he die.’ But:How did he

live.’ 5ot:What did he #ain.’ But:What

did he #ive.’ * (bi

10 (bi

11 (bi

12 ;arol Kushner3 When !ll "ou’ve 9ver Wanted *sn’t 9nou#h, 1st

7 )e4


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15ot:What was his church.’

5or:What was his creed.’

But:Had he befriended those really inneed.’ 5ot:What did the setch in the

newspaper say.’ But:How many were sorry

when he passed away.’

1These are the thin#s that measure the worth ofa man as man, re#ardless of birth$4

7very ay has its battles3 an toilsome labors toenure3 an for many3 thereFs a search for purposene can have everything the 4orl has to offer anstill feel empty

(n 7cclesiastes 2*123 Solomon e$presse hisburen3 GSo ( 4as great3 an increase more than allthat 4ere before me in Jerusalem also my 4isomremaine 4ith me 'n 4hatsoever mine eyes e-sire ( ept not from them3 ( 4ithhel not my heartfrom any 9oyL for my heart re9oice in all my labour

an this 4as my portion of all my labour #hen (looe on all the 4ors that my hans ha 4rought3an on the labour that ( ha laboure to o an3behol3 all 4as vanity an ve$ation of spirit3 anthere 4as no profit uner the sun 'n ( turne myself to behol 4isom3 an maness3 an folly for 4hatcan the man o that cometh after the ingH even that4hich hath been alreay oneI

;e continue on in verses 1.1*3 GEor there is noremembrance of the 4ise more than of the fool foreverL seeing that 4hich no4 is in the ays to comeshall all be forgotten 'n ho4 ieth the 4ise manH asthe fool #herefore ( hate lifeL because the 4or thatis 4rought uner the sun is grievous unto me for all isvanity an ve$ation of spirit


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after me 'n 4ho no4eth 4hether he shall be a 4iseman or a foolH yet shall he have rule over all mylabour 4herein ( have laboure3 an 4herein ( haveshe4e myself 4ise uner the sun #his is also

vanityIGEor all his ays are sorro4s3 an his travail griefLyea3 his heart taeth not rest in the night #his is alsovanity #here is nothing better for a man3 than that heshoul eat an rin3 an that he shoul mae his soulen9oy goo in his labour #his also ( sa43 that it 4asfrom the han of %o Eor 4ho can eat3 or 4ho elsecan hasten hereunto3 more than (H Eor %o giveth to aman that is goo in his sight 4isom3 an no4lege3an 9oy but to the sinner he giveth travail3 to gather

an to heap up3 that he may give to him that is goobefore %o #his also is vanity an ve$ation of spiritI7cclesiastes 22/2.

(f everything is vanity3 then 4hat is the purposeH6hat then is the purpose of men uner heavenH

(t is to see ;is 4ill%oFs 4ill is e$presse in the Scriptures3 throughthe language of

nature3 ;is prophets an apostles3 the aily lessons

an the personale$periences gaine3 but more importantly in the life of ;is Son JesusChrist an the ministration of the ;oly Spirit inour lives

6hen you have sought to no4 ;is 4ill3 yourpart in the op- eration 4ith %o is to believe thatyou 4ill be le an guie an blesse in theoing of ;is 4ill 6e may mistrust ourselves

lest 4e misinterpret ;is teachings3 but maeeven this a sub9ect of prayer3 an trust ;im3 stilltrust ;im to the utter- most3 that ;is ;oly Spirit4ill lea you to interpret aright ;is plans an the4oring of ;is provience 6hite3 &anuscript


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but ;is 4ill is simply for us to come to ;im 9ust as4e are3 to bring others to ;im3 to constantly havevictory over sin through Jesus Christ our @or3 anreflect ;is character in this arene 4orl=all that

4e may bring glory an honor to %o3 to 4orship ;imas our Maer an King3 an 4hen ;is Son shall comein the clous of heaven3 4eFll then tae part in ;isingom eternally

22

(saiah pronounce 55.3 + GSee ye the @or 4hilehe may be foun3 call ye upon him 4hile he is near@et the 4ice forsae his 4ay3 an the unrighteousman his thoughts an let him return unto the @or3an he 4ill have mercy upon himL an to our %o3 forhe 4ill abunantly paronI Mercy an forgiveness notonly rests upon ;is shoulers3 but love an gracelavishly abouns from ;is heart to reach out to those4ho come to earnestly see ;im an those longing tobe foun ;e strengthens the 4ea3 lifts up the fallen3

an gives foo to satisfy the hungry ;e prospersthose 4ho see an o ;is 4ill3 lengthens their livesan stretches ;is han to bless the 4ors of theirhans

!avi3 a man after %oFs o4n heart3 re9oice G#he@or is righteous in all his 4ays3 an holy in all his4ors #he @or is nigh unto all them that call uponhim3 to all that call upon him in truth ;e 4ill fulfil theesire of them that fear him he also 4ill hear theircry3 an 4ill save them #he @or preserveth all themthat love him but all the 4ice 4ill he estroyIPsalm 151+20

"ut 4hy 4oul a loving %o estroy the 4iceH #he life of all creatures is uner the mercy of theEather3 an ;e lets the rain an sunshine touch boththe righteous an unrighteous3 both the goo an evilMatthe4 55 "ut %o can only eal so long 4iththe 4ice3 until they have fille up the cup of 4rathan inignation G#he cup of iniBuity is nearly fille3

an the retributive 9ustice of %o is about to escenupon the guiltyI 6hite3 Testimonies for the -hurch,


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vol 3 p ,* #he 4ice an un9ust are given enough time to

repent an change their 4ays

#he @or oes not suffer 4ice practises to goon 4ithout sening reproof an 4arning #hereare men in high plac- es 4ho no4 of thereproofs3 of 4arnings3 of 9ugment sent3 4hono4 the e$ample of %oFs ealings 4ith others4ho have been isobeient3 yet 4ho have notsought to correct their 4ays before %o #heyhave eneavore rather to mae of none effectthe messages that %o has sent #hey have con-tinue to e$alt themselves3 an to carry out

their o4n 4ays in efiance of the 4ors of %o #hey have not been ignorant of the right 4ay3but they have allo4e their eyes to be blin- e(n pronouncing 9ugment upon these3 %o 4illsay3 as

2/

he sai to the 4ice ing3 #hou O hast nothumble thine heart3 though thou ne4est allthis 6hite3 The


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these are the beginning of sorro4s #hen shall theyeliver you up to be afflicte3 an shall ill you an yeshall be hate of all nations for my nameFs sae 'nthen shall many be offene3 an shall betray one

another3 an shall hate one another 'n many falseprophets shall rise3 an shall eceive many 'nbecause iniBuity shall aboun3 the love of many shall4a$ col "ut he that shall enure unto the en3 thesame shall be save 'n this gospel of the ingomshall be preache in all the 4orl for a 4itness unto allnationsL an then shall the en comeO (mmeiatelyafter the tribulation of those ays shall the sun bearene3 an the moon shall not give her light3 anthe stars shall fall from heaven3 an the po4ers of the

heavens shall be shaen an then shall appear thesign of the Son of man in heaven an then shall allthe tribes of the earth mourn3 an they shall see theSon of man coming in the clous of heaven 4ith po4eran great glory 'n he shall sen his angels 4ith agreat soun of a trumpet3 an they shall gathertogether his elect from the four 4ins3 from one en of heaven to the otherI Matthe4 213 2*/1

#he present is a time of over4helming interestto all living :ulers an statesmen3 men 4hooccupy positions of trust an authority3 thiningmen an 4omen of all classes3 have theirattention 8$e upon the events taing placeabout us #hey are 4atching the relations thate$ist among the nations

2

#hey observe the intensity that is taingpossession of every earthly element3 an theyrecogni?e that something great an ecisive isabout to tae place= that the 4orl is on theverge of a stupenous crisisI 6hite3 Prophetsand =in#s3 p 5/+

#he calamities by lan an sea3 the unsettlestate of society3 the alarms of 4ar3 are


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portentous #hey forecast approach- ing eventsof the greatest magnitue #he agencies of evilare combining their forces3 an consoliating #hey are strength- ening for the last great crisis

%reat changes are soon to tae place in our4orl3 an the 8nal movements 4ill be rapiones 6hite3 Testimonies for the -hurch3 vol *3p 11

%reat apprehension 4as felt 4hen the t4in to4ersfellL 4hen ;ur- ricane Katrina create havoc in )e4rleansL 4hen tsunami s4ept the coasts of (nonesia3 #hailan3 an (niaL 4hen ;aiti Buae in amagnitue of +0L in the aftershoc of JapanFs

earthBuae3 tsunami3 an Euushima nuclear threatL4hen the violent storm ;aiyan ble4 on the islans of PhilippinesL an 4hen the earthBuae struc )epalPeople fell onto their feeble nees to see %o inprayer3 an a lou outcry 4as hear throughout the4orl #he evastation it cause paraly?e many 4ithfear "ut 4here is %o 4hen it hurtsH 6here is %o4hen evil occursH

!espite the travails of humanity3 %o is there3

4atching over ;is chilren 6hen 4e cry3 %o cries;e eeps trac of every tear that falls from our eyesPsalm 5.,3 * ;is heart goes out to us 4ith greatlonging an patient forbearance G#he eyes of the@or are upon the righteous3 an ;is ears are open totheir criesI Psalm /15

7llen 6hite penne in 9arly Writin#sp /*

( have seen the tener love that %o has for ;is

people3 an it is very great ( sa4 angels overthe saints 4ith their 4ings sprea about them7ach saint ha an attening angel (f the saints4ept through iscouragement3 or 4ere inanger3 the angels that ever attene them4oul fly Buicly up4ar to carry the tiings3an the angels in the city 4oul cease to sing #hen Jesus 4oul commission another angel toescen to encourage3 4atch over3 an try toeep them from going out of the narro4 pathLbut if they i not tae hee to the


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25

4atchful care of these angels3 an 4oul notbe comforte by them3 but continue to goastray3 the angels 4oul loo sa an 4eep #hey 4oul bear the tiings up4ar3 an all theangels in the city 4oul 4eep3 an then 4ith alou voice say3 'menF "ut if the saints 8$etheir eyes upon the pri?e before them anglori8e %o by praising ;im3 then the an- gels4oul bear the gla tiings to the city3 an the

angels in the city 4oul touch their golen harpsan sing 4ith a lou voice3 'lleluiaNF an theheavenly arches 4oul ring 4ith their lovelysongs

Such love is so ivine3 so pure an sublime3 an yet4e fail to grasp the love that gave up all eternity forthe sae of man Many a time 4e accuse %o of allthe miseries an catastrophes in our lives ur minsare finite3 an 4e are limite in our unerstaning of

;is 4ays3 ;is mercy3 ;is 9ustice3 an the things ;eallo4s to tae place 6hy oes such a loving %oallo4 such trageies to fall on men3 even on the gooH #he story of Job beautifully e$plains the real rama inone manFs life

Job 4as a 4ealthy man in the lan of ? 4ith alarge family3 ser- vants3 flocs3 an fiels ;e 4asperfect an upright3 an he feare %o Job 11 neay3 %o sho4e Satan ho4 faithful ;is servant Job4as "ut Satan aime to isprove it3 an claime thatif he too everything that Job ha3 he 4oul curse %oan turn a4ay from ;im %o allo4e Satan to test Job in orer to prove JobFs allegiance an faithfulness3though %o 4oul not allo4 Satan to tae his life 'llin the course of one ay in e$act preceence3 Job losthis chilren3 his servants3 an his livestoc nly one4as left from his chilren to tell him of the tragey3an three survive from his servants in the fiel 4hocame to report various terrible catastrophes they each

ha 4itnesse Job 11/1* G#hen Job arose3 anrent his mantle3 an shave his hea3 an fell o4n


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upon the groun3 an 4orshippe3 an sai3 )aecame ( out of my motherFs 4omb3 an nae shall (return thither the @or gave3 an the @or hath taena4ayL blesse be the name of the @orI Job 1203 21

Satan 4as etermine to inflict more suffering3grief3 an pain %o allo4e him to test ;is servantonce more ;e sai3 G"ehol3 he is in thine hanL butsave his lifeI Job 2. 'n Satan smote Job 4ithanother affliction3 an he 4as fille 4ith boils3oo?ing sores from

2.

hea to foot G#hen sai his 4ife unto him3 !ost thoustill retain thine integrityH curse %o3 an ie "ut hesai unto her3 #hou speaest as one of the foolish4omen speaeth 6hatH shall 4e receive goo at thehan of %o3 an shall 4e not receive evilH (n all thisi not Job sin 4ith his lipsI Job 2*3 10

Job an his friens came an ha a poeticiscourse "ut the time came 4hen he complaine to

%o as to 4hy the evil prosper an the goo suffer #hen %o spoe to him in a rhetorical BuestionG6here 4ast thou 4hen ( lai the founations of theearthH eclare3 if thou hast unerstaning 6ho hathlai the measures thereof3 if thou no4estH or 4hohath stretche the line upon itH 6hereupon are thefounations thereof fasteneH or 4ho lai the cornerstone thereofL 4hen the morning stars sang together3an all the sons of %o shoute for 9oyH ;ast thouperceive the breath of the earthH eclare if thouno4est it all 6here is the 4ay 4here light 4ellethHan as for arness3 4here is the place thereof I Job/,+3 1,3 1* 'fter %o spoe3 Job ans4ere3 G(no4 that thou canst o every thing3 an that nothought can be 4ithholen from thee 6ho is he thathieth counsel 4ithout no4legeH therefore have (uttere that ( unerstoo notL things too 4onerful forme3 4hich ( ne4 notI Job 223 /

)o one can possibly e$plain %oFs 9ustice3 because

no man can fully unerstan ;is 4ays GEor mythoughts are not your thoughts3 neither are your 4ays


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my 4ays3 saith the @orI (saiah 55, #hrough JobFs suffering3 his true character an his

faithfulness to %o 4ere reveale 't the latter en of his life3 %o blesse him 4ith t4ice as much than in

the beginning Job 2121+ ;e also ha sev- ensons an three beautiful aughters3 fairer than any4oman in the lan ;e live long an full of years

Philip


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heavenH(t is to no4 %o3 the Creator of manin3 an ;ispurpose for

us Eor our purpose only becomes clear 4hen 4e no4 an

uner-stan %oFs purpose for creating man

#he genealogy of our race3 as given byinspiration3 traces bac its origin3 not to a line of eveloping germs3 molluss3 an Buarupes3but to the great Creator #hough forme fromthe ust3 'am 4as the son of %oF

;e 4as place3 as %oFs representative3 over the

lo4er orers of being #hey cannot unerstanor acno4lege the sov- ereignty of %o3 yetthey 4ere mae capable of loving an servingman #he psalmist says3 #hou maest him tohave ominion over the 4ors of #hy hansL #hou hast put all things uner his feet thebeasts of the 8elL the fo4l of the air3 an4hatsoever passeth through the paths of theseasF Psalm ,.,

1 Philip


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obeience to ;is 4ill

's man came forth from the han of his Creator3he 4as of lofty stature an perfect symmetry

;is countenance bore the ruy tint of healthan glo4e 4ith the light of life an 9oy 'amFsheight 4as much greater than that of men 4hono4 inhabit the earth 7ve 4as some4hat less instatureL yet her form 4as noble3 an full of beauty #he sinless pair 4ore no arti8cialgarmentsL they 4ere clothe 4ith a covering of light an glory3 such as the angels 4ear So longas they live in obeience to %o3 this robe of light continue to enshrou them 6hite3

Patriarchs and Prophets3 p 5

%o create man in ;is o4n image %enesis12+3 an it 4as ;is purpose that the longerman live the more fully he shoul reveal thisimage=the more fully reUect the glory of theCreator 'll his faculties 4ere capable of evelopmentL their capacity an vigor 4erecontinually to increase Vast 4as the scope

offere for their e$ercise3 glorious the 8elopene to their research #he mysteries of thevisible universe=the4onrous 4ors of ;im 4hich is perfect inno4legeF Job/+1.=invite manFs stuy Eace-to-face3heart-to-heartcommunion 4ith his Maer 4as his highprivilege ;a heremaine loyal to %o3 all this 4oul have

been his forev-er #hroughout eternal ages he 4oul havecontinue to gainne4 treasures of no4lege3 to iscover freshsprings of hap-piness3 an to obtain clearer an yet clearerconceptions of the 4isom3 the po4er3 an the love of %oMore an morefully 4oul he have fulfille the ob9ect of hiscreation3 more


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an more fully have reUecte the CreatorFsglory 6hite3 9ducation3 p 15

2*

#he creator of the universe 4ho governe theheavens 4ith the la4 of love3 purposefully createman to manifest ;is character3 for no being yetcreate 4as accoring to ;is image an lieness #he%oheaFs creative po4ers 4ere at 4or 4hen theyforme man from ust3 an breathe life into his

nostrils

Man 4as originally eno4e 4ith noblepo4ers an a 4ell-balance min ;e 4asperfect in his being3 an in harmony 4ith %o;is thoughts 4ere pure3 his aims holy "utthrough isobeience3 his po4ers 4ereperverte3 an self- ishness too the place of love ;is nature became so 4ea- ene throughtransgression that it 4as impossible for him3 inhis o4n strength3 to resist the po4er of evil O #he sinner coul not be happy in %oFspresenceL he 4oul shrin from thecompanionship of holy beings Coul he bepermitte to enter heaven3 it 4oul have no 9oyfor him #he spirit of unselfish love that reignsthere=every heart responing to the heart of (n8nite @ove=4oul touch no ans4ering chor inhis soul ;is thoughts3 his interests3 his

motives3 4oul be alien to those that actuatethe sinless 4ellers there ;e 4oul be aiscorant note in the meloy of heaven ;eav-en 4oul be to him a place of tortureL he 4oullong to be hien from ;im 4ho is its light3 anthe center of its 9oy (t is no arbitrary ecree onthe part of %o that e$clues the 4ice fromheavenL they are shut out by their o4n unfitnessfor its companionship #he glory of %o 4oul beto them a consuming 8re #hey 4oul 4elcome

estruction3 that they might be hien from the


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face of ;im 4ho ie to reeem them 6hite3%teps to -hrist 3 pp 1+3 1,

(t is transgression of %oFs la4=the la4 of love=

that has brought 4oe an eath


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4ith a love stronger than eath (n giving up ;isSon3 ;e has poure out to us all heaven in onegift 6hite3 0ur 7ather -ares3 p .5

ManFs fall reveale the conseBuences of sin3 but theoriginator of sin has been no4n before the creationof man "efore iscor an strife occurre in heaven3it 4as a place of heavenly harmony 4here celestialbeings 4illingly follo4e %oFs holy an perfect 4ill;e gave freeom of choice to all an supplie everymeans of happiness3 im- parting ;is righteousness3 toall ;e create #he company of angels ha 9oy as theyvoluntarily obeye ;is 4ill #he Eather 4as one 4iththe Son an the ;oly Spirit "ut the first of the

covering cherub3 @uci- fer3 Gson of the morningI(saiah 1123 cherishe in his heart the e- sire to be4orshippe3 to gain the honor an glory3 4hichbelongs to Christ 'n that 9ealousy an prie in hisheart became the origin of sin that brought him to hiso4nfall G#hus saith the @or %oL #hou sealest upthe sum3 full of 4isom3 an perfect in beauty #houhast been in 7en the garen of %oL every preciousstone 4as thy cov- ering3 the sarius3 topa?3 an the

iamon3 the beryl3 the ony$3 an the 9asper3 thesapphire3 the emeral3 an the carbuncle3 an golthe 4ormanship of thy tabrets an of thy pipes 4asprepare in thee

/1

in the ay that thou 4ast create #hou art the

anointe cherub that coverethL an ( have set thee sothou 4ast upon the holy mountain of %oL thou hast4ale up an o4n in the mist of the stones of fire #hou 4ast perfect in thy 4ays from the ay that thou4ast create3 till iniBuity 4as foun in theeI 7?eiel2,1215

@ucifer starte a rebellion against %o3 an in hissubtle soph- istries he eceive a thir of the angels:evelation 12 "ut %o gave him every chancepossible to change his 4ays an to submit to ;isgovernment


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(n great mercy3 accoring to ;is ivinecharacter3 %o bore long 4ith @ucifer #he spiritof iscontent an isaffection ha never before

been no4n in heaven (t 4as a ne4 ele- ment3strange3 mysterious3 unaccountable @uciferhimself ha not at 8rst been acBuainte 4ith thereal nature of his feelingsL for a time he hafeare to e$press the 4orings an imaginings of his minL yet he i not ismiss them ;e i notsee 4hither he 4as rifting "ut such efforts asin8nite love an 4isom only coul evise3 4eremae to convince him of his error ;isisaffection 4as prove to be 4ithout cause3 an

he 4as mae to see 4hat 4oul be the result of persisting in revolt @ucifer 4as convince thathe 4as in the 4rong ;e sa4 that the @or isrighteous in all ;is 4ays3 an holy in all ;is4orsF Psalm 151+L that the ivine statutesare 9ust3 an that he ought to acno4lege themas such before all heaven ;a he one this3 hemight have save himself an many angels ;eha not at that time fully cast oD his allegianceto %o #hough he ha left his position ascovering cherub3 yet if he ha been 4illing toreturn to %o3 acno4leging the CreatorFs4isom3 an satis8e to fill the place appointehim in %oFs great plan3 he 4oul have beenreinstate in his oce #he time ha come for a8nal eci- sionL he must fully yiel to the ivinesovereignty or place himself in open rebellion;e nearly reache the ecision to return3 butprie forbae him (t 4as too great a sacri8ce for

one 4ho ha been so highly honore to confessthat he ha been in error3 that his imaginings4ere false3 an to yiel to the authority3 4hichhe ha been 4oring to prove un9ust

/2


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' compassionate Creator3 in yearning pity for@ucifer an his follo4ers3 4as seeing to ra4them bac from the abyss of ruin into 4hich they4ere about to plunge "ut ;is mercy 4as

misinterprete @ucifer pointe to the long-suffering of %o as an evience of his o4nsuperiority3 an inication that the King of theuniverse 4oul yet accee to his terms (f theangels 4oul stan 8rmly 4ith him3 he eclare3they coul yet gain all that they esire ;epersistently efene his o4n course3 an fullycommitte himself to the great con- troversyagainst his Maer 6hite3 Patriarchs andProphets3 pp /*3 0

;e brought one thir of the angels 4ith him anthey 4ere cast out of heaven (n :evelation 12+*3thereFs a vivi escription of 4hat happene3 G'nthere 4as 4ar in heaven Michael an his an- gelsfought against the ragonL an the ragon fought anhis angels3 an prevaile notL neither 4as their placefoun any more in heaven 'n the great ragon 4ascast out3 that ol serpent3 calle the !evil3 an Satan3

4hich eceiveth the 4hole 4orl he 4as cast out intothe earth3 an his angels 4ere cast out 4ith himI"ut hope 4as still uttere in a beautiful meloy

G'n ( hear a lou voice saying in heaven3 )o4 iscome salvation3 an strength3 an the ingom of our%o3 an the po4er of his Christ for the accuser of our brethren is cast o4n3 4hich accuse thembefore our %o ay an night 'n they overcame himby the bloo of the @amb3 an by the 4or of theirtestimonyL an they love not their lives unto the

eathI :evelation 12103 11

Christ sacri8ce his ma9esty3 his splenor3 hisglory3 an his honor3 an for our saes becamepoor3 that 4e through his poverty might bemae rich ;e conescene to a life of humiliation ;e 4as sub9ecte to scorn ;e 4asespise an re9ecte of men ;e bore insult anmocery3 an a most painful eath in the mostshameful manner3 in orer that he might e$altan save the fallen sons an aughters of 'am


40/159

from hopeless misery (n vie4 of thisunparallele sacri8ce an mysterious lovemanifeste for us by our :eeemer3 shall 4e4ithhol from %o our entire service3 4hich at

the best is so feebleH 6hite3 The


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in ;is 4or (n orer to enter into ;is 9oy3=the 9oy of seeing souls reeeme by ;is sacri8ce3=4e must participate in ;is labors for theirreemption 6hite3 The 8esire of !#es, p 12

#o everyone 4ho becomes a partaer of ;isgrace the @or appoints a 4or for others(niviually 4e are to stan in our lot an place3saying3 ;ere am (L sen meF (saiah ., ponthe minister of the 4or3 the missionary nurse3the Christian physician3 the iniviual Christian34hether he be merchant or farmer3 professionalman or mechanic=the responsibility rests uponall (t is our 4or to reveal to men the gospel

of their salvation 7very enterprise in4hich 4e engage

/

shoul be a means to this en 6hite3 The&inistry of Healin#, p1,

%o has a purpose for each one


42/159

Many times 4e lose in touch 4ith %o3 an as aresult3 lose sight of our purpose (n that crestfallenmoment 4e begin to Buestion %o3 G6hat am ( here

forHI (t becomes a struggle to fin the center of ourlives 4hen everything seems to have fallen apart 6eloo o4n searching for ans4ers "ut 4e only have toloo up to fin them Eor %o alone3 the %iver of life3can give us the ans4ers to lifeFs Buestions an to ourlifeFs very purpose

7ven before 4e are born3 %o ne4 us ;e nit usinsie our motherFs 4omb Jeremiah 15 ;e eclarethe ay of our birth an 4here 4e 4oul live 'cts1+2. #here is no mistae Psalm 1/*153

1. (t is no coincience that 4e are born on thisearth ;e create us 4ith a plan an a purpose for ourlives GEor ( no4 the thoughts ( thin to4ar you3saith the @or3 thoughts of peace3 an not of evil3 togive you an e$pecte enI Jeremiah 2*11


43/159

plan our o4n lives (t is not for us to shape ourfutureO Christ in ;is life on earth mae no plansfor ;imself ;e accepte %oFs plans for ;im3an ay by ay the Eather unfole ;is plans So

shoul 4e e- pen upon %o3 that our lives maybe the simple out4oring of ;is 4ill 's 4ecommit our 4ays to ;im3 ;e 4ill irect our steps6hite3 The &inistry of Healin#3 pp +,3 +*

G' manFs heart eviseth his 4ay but the @orirecteth ;is stepsI Proverbs 1.* Paul3 a faithfulservant of %o3 bis us to G4al by faith3 not by sightI2 Corinthians 5+3 trusting an believing only in the%o of heaven G#rust in the @or 4ith all thine heartL

an lean not unto thine o4n unerstaning (n all thy4ays acno4lege him3 an he shall irect thy pathsIProverbs /53 . 6e must learn to trust in ;im 4ithall our hearts for ;e alone no4s our future3 an ;e4ors all things together for the goo of those 4holove ;im an are calle to ;is purpose :omans ,2,

(f you have given yourself to %o3 to o ;is 4or3you have no nee to be an$ious for tomorro4

;e 4hose servant you are3 no4s the en fromthe beginning #he events of tomor- ro43 4hichare hien from your vie43 are open to the eyesof ;im 4ho is omnipotent 6hen 4e tae intoour hans the management of things 4ith 4hich4e have to o3 an epen upon our o4n4isom for success3 4e are taing a buren4hich %o has not given us3 an are trying tobear it 4ithout ;is ai 6e are taing uponourselves the responsibility that belongs to %o3

an thus are really putting ourselves in ;is

/.

place 6e may 4ell have an$iety3 an anticipateanger an lossL for it is certain to befall us "ut4hen 4e really believe that %o loves us3 an

means to o us goo3 4e shall cease to 4orryabout the future 6e shall trust %o as a chil


44/159

trusts a loving parent #hen our troubles antorments 4ill isap- pearL for our 4ill iss4allo4e up in the 4ill of %o 6hite3 %onsand 8au#hters of God, p 11*

6hat is %oFs ultimate purpose for usH (t is to no4;is goo an perfect 4ill :omans 1223 to betransforme to reflect the character of ChristColossians /103 to bear the fruits of the ;oly Spirit%alatians 5223 2/3 an to bring the gospel into allthe 4orl Matthe4 2,1*3 20 'n finally3 for man tomove heaven4ar3 from glory to glory 2 Corinthians/1,

GChrist is 4aiting 4ith longing esire for the

manifestation of ;imself in ;is church 6hen thecharacter of Christ shall be per- fectly reprouce in;is people3 then ;e 4ill come to claim them as ;iso4nI 6hite3 -hrist’s 0b'ect +essons3 p .* #hepath4ay maybe rough an rugge3 but %o3 ourStronghol an !eliverer promise3 G( 4ill instructthee an teach thee in the 4ay 4hich thou shalt go (4ill guie thee 4ith mine eyeI Psalm /2,

/+


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Find Your LittleCorner

hristina M Puchalsi stuie the role of spirituality in health- care an 4as ama?e of itsimportance in a patientFs recovery She note3GSpiritual beliefs can help the patient cope 4ith

iseases an face eathO Spiritual commitmenttens to enhance recovery from illness an surgeryI1. (t helps the patient to 4orry less3 to let go3 anperhaps let %o ;ope an faith in %o strengthensthem as they go through the critical times of theirlives

(n 1*,, :anolph C "yr conucte a stuy on thepositive therapeutic effects of intercessory prayer3an foun that intercessory prayer to the Jueo-

Christian %o prove beneficial to patients in thecoronary care unit CC 1+ 6illiam ;arris alsoconucte a similar stuy in 1*** an came up 4iththe same conclusion on its therapeutic effects 1,

;o4ever3 "enson an his colleagues summe theresult of their Stuy of the #herapeutic 7ffects of intercessory Prayer S#7P in coronary bypass patients= having no effect on complication-free re- coveryan even associate 4ith higher incience of

complication 1*


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1+ :anolph C "yr3 GPositive 7ffects of (ntercessory Prayer in aCoronary Care

nit PopulationI Southern Meical Journal3 Vol ,13 )o+3 ,2.,2*3 1*,,

1, 6illiam ;arris et al3 G' ranomi?e controlle trial of the

effects of remote3 intercessory prayer on outcomes in patientsamitte to the coronary care unitI 'rchives of (nternalMeicine 15*1*L 22+/22+,3 1***

1* ;erbert "enson et al3 GStuy of #herapeutic 7ffects of (ntercessory Prayer S#7P in cariac bypass patients a multi-center ranomi?e trial of uncertainty an cer- tainty of receivingintercessory prayerI 'merican ;eart Journal3 151L */*23200.

/*

an the research on prayer an spirituality is 9ustbeginningI 20 (t is beyon the reach of science toe$plain something supernatural an ivine

6orlly 4isom teaches prayer is not essentialMen of science claim that there can be no realans4er to prayerL that this 4oul be a violationof la43 a miracle3 an that miracles have noe$istence #he universe3 they say3 is governe by

8$e la4s3 an %o ;imself oes nothingcontrary to these la4s #hus they represent %oas boun by ;is o4n la4s=as if the operationof ivine la4s e$clue ivine freeom Suchteaching is oppose to the testimony of theScriptures 6ere not miracles 4rought by Christan ;is apostlesH #he same compassionateSavior lives toay3 an ;e is as 4illing to lis- tento the prayer of faith as 4hen ;e 4ale visiblyamong men 6hite3 The Great -ontroversy 3 p525

%o tale to man in the beginning 'n toay ;estill speas ;e hears us3 but 4e must also learn tolisten to ;is voice 6hen %o sent Jesus o4n to this4orl to live as a man3 ;e humbly too human formto reach an save men in their miserable an yingstate Jesus looe upon the hills of %ethsemanepreaching to all people an healing all manner of

iseases "ut to strengthen ;im for ;is 4or3 ;e4oul see %o in prayer (t 4as through taling to ;is


48/159

Eather that ;e coul rest ;is soul an refresh ;isspirit

'mist the clamor of this 4orl3 ;e foun solituein no4ing %o3 in seeing ;is 4ill an unerstaning

;is purpose (t 4as in those Buiet moments that ;e4as strengthene an 4as thereby en- able tostrengthen those 4ho 4ere 4ea Eor ;is po4er ismae perfect in our 4eaness 2 Corinthians 12* ;e4as crucifie3 mae feeble3 an crushe by the sins of the 4orl3 but live by the po4er of %o 2Corinthians 1/

"efore ;e left his isciples3 ;e taught them themost solemn truths about the Eather an the nee tosubmit aily their o4n 4ill

20 "eneict Carey3 G@ong-a4aite meical stuy Buestions thepo4er of prayerI )e4 ;RrW0IRrW0

0

to %o ;e taught them also ho4 to pray Gur Eather4hich art in heaven3 ;allo4e be thy name thyingom come3 thy 4ill be one in earth3 as it is inheaven %ive us this ay our aily brea 'n forgiveus our ebts3 as 4e forgive our ebtors 'n lea usnot into temptation3 but eliver us from evil for thineis the ingom3 an the po4er3 an the glory3 for ever

'menI Matthe4 .*1/ #hat prayer ;e ha spoen to ;is follo4ers 4as notmeant to be repeate nor chante3 but to be follo4eas a guie G'n after this manner pray yeI Matthe4.* ;is prayer began in aoration an praise3follo4e by thansgiving3 confession3 an thensupplication an ening in praise ;e conBuere the4orl 4ith the mighty po4er of %o3 an use it tora4 men unto ;im ;e sai3 G'n (3 if ( be lifte upfrom the earth3 4ill ra4 all men unto meI John12/2 G( am the 4ay3 the truth3 an the life no man

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cometh unto the Eather3 but by meI John 1. #hese very 4ors help us to unerstan 4e are topray to %o in JesusF name

Jesus Christ 4as the perfect sacrifice3 the innocent

@amb of %o slain from the founation of the 4orl7ven the angels pleae to be sacrifice to spare thene that is 'ltogether @ovely3 the Prince of Peace

#hey 4ere tol that since the la4 of Jehovah isthe founation of ;is government in heaven as4ell as upon the earth3 even the life of an angelcoul not be accepte as a sacri8ce for itstransgression )ot one of its precepts coul beabrogate or change to meet man in his fallen

conitionL but the Son of %o3 4ho ha createman3 coul mae an atonement for him 6hite3Patriarchs and Prophets3 p ..

G'n that he might reconcile both unto %o in oneboy by the cross3 having slain the enmity therebyan came an preache peace to you 4hich 4ere afaroff3 an to them that 4ere nigh Eor through him 4eboth have access by one Spirit unto the EatherI

7phesians21.1, G#herefore being 9ustifie by faith3 4e havepeace 4ith %o through our @or Jesus Christ by4hom also 4e have access by faith into this grace4herein 4e stan3 an re9oice in hope of the glory of %oI :omans 513 2

Jesus Christ is our (ntercessor 4ho pleas in heavenfor our sins3 for our prayers an petitions ;e is our;igh Priest that ministers in

1

the holy of holies of the heavenly sanctuary ;e is theonly meiator the earth has3 an ;e efens our verycase to %o )o other vicar on earth oes %o3 the%reat Monarch of the universe3 acno4lege3 but Jesus Christ alone 6hen 4e pray before the Eather3Gin JesusF name3I ;is bloo is appropriate for oursins (n ;is name there is po4er 6eFre tol G(f 4e


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confess our sins3 he is faithful an 9ust to forgive usour sins3 an to cleanse us from all unrighteousnessI1 John1* ;e mae heaven closer to man through ;is

ultimate sacrifice;e counsele3 G"ut thou3 4hen thou prayest3enter into thy clos-

et3 an 4hen thou hast shut thy oor3 pray to thyEather 4hich is insecretL an thy Eather 4hich seeth in secret shallre4ar thee openlyIMatthe4 .. GPrayer is a necessityL for it is the lifeof the soul Eam-ily prayer3 public prayer3 have their placeL but it is the

secret commu-nion 4ith %o that sustains the soul lifeI 6hite39ducation3 p 25,


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immeiate contact 4ith the 6ellspring of @ife3an strengthens the sine4 an muscle of thereligious e$perience )eglect the e$ercise of prayer3 or engage in prayer spasmoically3 no4

an then3 as seems convenient3 an you loseyour hol on %o #he spiritual faculties losetheir vitality3 the religious e$- perience lacshealth an vigor (t is a 4onerful thing that4e can pray effectually3 that un4orthy3 erringmortals pos- sess the po4er of offering theirreBuests to %o 6hat higher po4er can manesire than this3=to be line 4ith the in- 8nite%oH Eeeble3 sinful man has the privilege of speaing

2

to his Maer 6e may utter 4ors that reach thethrone of the Monarch of the universe 6e mayspea 4ith Jesus as 4e 4al by the 4ay3 an ;esays3 ( am at thy right han 6hite3 &essa#es to

"oun# People3 pp 2*3 250Prayer is inee a precious gift from %o to sinful

mortals lie us #here is nothing more important thanto lean on %oFs everlasting arms of mercy for ;ealone can sustain us an see us through #hus3 4eshoul regularly tae time to pray

7very morning tae time to begin your 4or 4ithprayer !o not thin this 4aste timeL it is time

that 4ill live through eternal ages "y this meanssuccess an spiritual victory 4ill be brought in #he machinery 4ill respon to the touch of theMasterFs han %oFs blessing is certainly 4orthasing for3 an the 4or cannot be one arightunless the beginning is right #he hans of every4orer must be strengthene3 his heart must bepuri8e3 before the @or can use him effective-ly 6hite Testimonies for the -hurch3 vol +3 p

1*


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'lthough Christ ha given the promise to ;isisciples that they shoul receive the ;oly Spirit3this i not remove the necessity of prayer #hey praye all the more earnestlyL they

continue in prayer 4ith one accor #hose 4hoare no4 engage in the solemn 4or of preparing a people for the coming of the @or3shoul also continue in prayer 6hite3 GospelWorers3 p /+1

6e must pray earnestly3 pray unceasingly anpress our petitions to4ar heaven3 that heavenFs oormay be opene3 an that %oFs lavish love3 abunantblessing3 an great mercies3 may be sho4ere upon

us

ur heavenly Eather 4aits to besto4 upon us thefullness of ;is blessing (t is our privilege to rinlargely at the fountain of bounless love 6hat a4oner it is that 4e pray so littleN %o is reayan 4illing to hear the sincere prayer of thehumblest of ;is chilren3 an yet there is muchmanifest re- luctance on our part to mae

no4n our 4ants to %o 6hat

/

can the angels of heaven thin of poor helplesshuman be- ings3 4ho are sub9ect to temptation34hen %oFs heart of in- 8nite love yearns to4arthem3 reay to give them more than they can

as or thin3 an yet they pray so little an haveso little faithH #he angels love to bo4 before %oLthey love to be near ;im #hey regarcommunion 4ith %o as their highest 9oyL anyet the chilren of earth3 4ho nee so much thehelp that %o only can give3 seem satis8e to4al 4ithout the light of ;is Spirit3 thecompanionship of ;is presenceI 6hite3 %teps to-hrist 3 p *

G%o is bening from ;is throne to hear the cry of


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the oppresse #o every sincere prayer ;e ans4ers3;ere am (F ;e uplifts the is- tresse ano4ntroen (n all our afflictions ;e is afflicte (n ev-ery temptation an every trial the angel of ;is

presence is near to eliverI 6hite3 8esire of !#es3 p/5. G%o hears the prayers of all 4ho see ;im intruth ;e has the po4er that 4e all nee ;e fills theheart 4ith love3 an 9oy3 an peace3 an holinessI6hite3 Testimonies for the -hurch3 vol 13 p 121

(n a little corner3 hushe in perfect silence3 4e canpour out our hearts to %o an let ;is assurance beour confience Eor in prayer 4e become closest tothe Eather3 4ho brings us comfort an peace

:est yourself 4holly in the hans of JesusContemplate ;is great love3 an 4hile youmeitate upon ;is self-enial3 ;is in8nitesacri8ce mae in our behalf in orer that 4eshoul believe in ;im3 your heart 4ill be fille4ith holy 9oy3 calm peace3 an inescribablelove 's 4e tal of Jesus3 as 4e call upon ;im inprayer3 our con8ence that ;e is our person- al3loving Saviour 4ill strengthen an ;is character

4ill appear more an more lovely 6e mayen9oy rich feasts of love3 an as 4e fully believethat 4e are ;is by aoption3 4e may have aforetaste of heaven 6ait upon the @or in faith #he @or ra4s out the soul in prayer3 angives us to feel ;is precious love 6e have anearness to ;im3 an can hol s4eet communion4ith ;im 6e obtain istinct vie4s of ;istenerness an compassion3 an our hearts arebroen an melte 4ith contemplation of the

love that is given to us 6e feel inee anabiing Christ in the soul 6e abie in ;im3

an feel at home 4ith Jesus #he promises Uo4into the soul ur peace is lie a river3 4ave after

4ave of glory rolls into the heart3 an inee 4esup 4ith Jesus an ;e 4ith us 6e have a


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reali?ing sense of the love of %o3 an 4e rest in;is love )o language can escribe it3 it isbeyon no4lege 6e are one 4ith Christ3 ourlife is hi 4ith Christ in %o 6e have the

assurance that 4hen ;e 4ho is our life shallappear3 then shall 4e also appear 4ith ;im inglory 6ith strong con8ence3 4e can call %oour Eather 6hite3 %eventh)day !dventist Bible-ommentary 3 vol /3 pp 11+3 11,

(tFs comforting to no4 that 4e can call %o ourEather through Jesus Christ3 our :eeemer an @or Jesus unerstans our struggles in this 4orl3 for ;ehas live it 'n 4hen ;e ascene bac to ;eaven3

;e i not leave us comfortless ;e left the ;oly Spiritto comfort us in all our troubles Just as ;e came o4nto people 4ho neee ;im many years ago3 ;e stillcomes to meet us in our nee toay (n ;is lovinginness an tener mercies3 ;e opens ;is arms toreceive us 9ust as 4e are ;e hears our earnest pleaan our unspo- en prayers

' story about the po4er of prayer seeme fitting toshare ' group of friens3 4ho 9ust grauate from a

Christian high school3 4ent on an islan trip (t 4asthrilling as they approache the pris- tine islan #heyfelt the 4armth of the summer sy3 the crisp3 freshbree?e3 the fine 4hite san an the clear blue 4atersuner their feet 's they ove in for a s4im3 the 4atersplashe here an there (t 4as a 4onerful time onthe beach #he time for lunch came3 the cloth 4assprea out in the san3 an the foo 4as set 'e totheir elight 4as the freshly caught grille fish7verything seeme perfect #hey reste for a 4hile3

an 4ent bac for a s4im #hey then 4aite for thebanca3 a 4ooen motorboat3 to pic them up late inthe afternoon Much to their surprise they sa4 amother an her 10-year-ol son manning the boat #hey inFt have much choice3 so they 9umpe in3eager to go home

's the motorboat starte its engine3 ar clousgathere #he mother an her son trie to fin their4ay in the ar #here 4ere no signs or anything toguie them3 for everything 4as blac #hey trie toirect the boat as best they coul until suenly3 the


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engine stoppe #hey 4ere carrie out to the Pacificcean 'n the storm

5

rage3 tossing them to an fro #he girls crie an theboy alsoL they feare for their o4n lives #hey hel onto each otherFs arms an crie out3 GJesus3 save usNPlease save usNI 'fter the mother an her son maeseveral attempts to start the engine3 a miraclehappene #he engine starte 4oring again;o4ever3 they i not no4 4here to go (t 4as so

ar3 they coul not fin their 4ay #hose youth eptpraying an praying3 until they sa4 the light (t 4asshining from afar G#he lighthouseNI one e$claime #he mother steere to4ar the main islan until theysafely arrive to shore

Storms of life may efeat us3 an arness maysurroun us3 but %o is ever there3 4atching over us'n as 4e 4al through the blacest night3 the light of %o 4ill shine brightly through G#hen spae Jesus

again unto them3 saying3 ( am the light of the 4orlhe that follo4eth me shall not 4al in arness3 butshall have the light of lifeI John ,12

:emember3 no matter ho4 im your 4orl mayseem3 there is light 'n no matter ho4insurmountable your buren may seem3 if you castyourself into %oFs loving arms of mercy3 youFll finrefuge an strength to carry on Eor G%o is ourrefuge an strength3 a very present help in troubleIPsalm .1 ;e is there for you3 to comfort you an

uplift you3 to guie you an to sustain you G'n evento your ol age ( am heL an even to hoar hairs 4ill (carry you ( have mae3 an ( 4ill bearL even ( 4illcarry3 an 4ill eliver youI (saiah. ;e is the Eather 4ho has been 4aiting for you@ue 1511/2

Mae your reBuests no4n to your Maer )everis one re- pulse 4ho comes to ;im 4ith acontrite heart )ot one sincere prayer is lost'mi the anthems of the celestial choir3 %o


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hears the cries of the 4eaest human being 6epour out our heartFs esire in our closets3 4ebreathe a prayer as 4e 4al by the 4ay3 an our4ors reach the throne of the Mon- arch of the

universe #hey may be inauible to any humanear3 but they cannot ie a4ay into silence3 norcan they be lost through the activities of business that are going on )othing can ro4nthe soulFs esire (t rises above the in of thestreet3 above the confusion of the multitue3 tothe heavenly courts (t is %o to 4hom 4e arespeaing3 an our prayer is hear


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can 4rite 4hat happene in the past3 the struggles of toay3 an the e$pectations of tomorro4 "ut ho4comforting it 4oul be to have oneFs 9ournal en- tries4ritten irectly to heaven3 opening 4ith the very

4ors G!ear %oI ' letter 4ritten to %o is po4erfulbeyon all measure3 even much more than a letter4ritten to a ing to grant a reBuest (t also gives us anassurance that someone up there is listening to us toour fears3 to our heartaches3 to our longings3 ouresires an our pleas

6riting to heaven coul be our most eloBuent 4ayto e$press ourselves to %o3 bringing ;is presence toour lives an maing ;im part of our aily grin3sharing our granest 9oys an eepest sor- ro4s3 our

most e$citing moments or our aily struggles (t4oul be a s4eet e$perience opening our hearts to%o that ;e may minister unto us ;e can become ourearest Erien3 to 4hom 4e can share anything unerthe sun3 but 4ho 4ill al4ays remain loyal3 true3 anfaithful to us

(f 4e come to %o3 feeling helpless anepenent3 as 4e really are3 an in humble3

trusting faith mae no4n our 4ants to ;im4hose no4lege is in8nite3 4ho seeseverything in

+

creation3 an 4ho governs everything by ;is 4illan 4or3 ;e can an 4ill atten to our cry3 an

4ill let light shine into our hearts #hroughsincere prayer 4e are brought into con- nection4ith the min of the (n8nite 6e may have nore- marable evience at the time that the face of our :eeemer is bening over us in compassionan love3 but this is even so 6e may not feel ;isvisible touch3 but ;is han is upon us in love anpitying tenerness 6hite3 %teps to -hrist 3 p*+

;ave you ever 4ritten to %oH #yler !oughtieFs


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true story move peopleFs hearts an brought tears intheir eyes to 4itness his unyiel- ing faith in the lastfe4 years of his life3 cast in the film G@etters to %oIn January .3 200/3 at + years of age3 he 4as

iagnose 4ith a form of brain cancer3meulloblastoma ;e fought bravely for t4o yearsuntil he passe a4ay on March +3 2005 21

!uring the time #yler 4as unergoing cancertreatments3 responing 4ell an anticipating fullrecovery3 his a Patric thought of 4riting aninspirational3 but fictional story about a boy ying 4ithcancer 4ith a title +etters to God$ "ut #yler i notrecover ;is eath ha a tremenous impact toPatric ;e starte asing %o to guie him through

4riting a boo #hen one night3 a frien from soccercame an brought him the boo Walin# Taylor Home(t 4as a story about a boy name #aylor iagnoseat * years ol 4ith a can- cerous tumor on his pelvis (tbegan the 9ourney of a father an son on the trail of anguish3 hope3 anger3 9oy3 grief3 life3 an eath #hisboo inspire Patric to embar on the ne4 9ourney of 4riting his an his sonFs o4n story "ut after a coupleof chapters3 he fell into epression again 22

(t too him t4o years to overcome his grief3 toaccept #ylerFs eath3 an to restore his relationship4ith %o #hen he began 4rit- ing again3 not for aboo3 but this time for a screenplay ;e finishe ascript4riting course in his etermination to 4rite ithimself #hough +etters to God 4as aapte fromtheir story3 he put some elements of fiction tohighlight hope an inspiration #he script 4as alreayapprove by !avi )i$on3 co-proucer of 7ireproof an 7acin# the

21 @onney 6iley3 G @etters to %oF film has a moving true storyIBaptist Press3 March 113 20103h tt pQQ 44 4 bp n e 4s n etQ/2+/Qle t t e r s- t o- g o -f i lm- ha s- m o v in g- true-story

22 (bi

,

Giants, 4hen Patric ecie to go through #ylerFs

http://www.bpnews.net/32473/letters-to-god-film-has-moving-http://www.bpnews.net/32473/letters-to-god-film-has-moving-http://www.bpnews.net/32473/letters-to-god-film-has-moving-http://www.bpnews.net/32473/letters-to-god-film-has-moving-http://www.bpnews.net/32473/letters-to-god-film-has-moving-


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room an fin some of his things #o his ama?ementhe foun #ylerFs noteboo3 4here he scribble thingshappening to him each ay 'n the very 4ors thatcaught his eyes 4ere passages 4ritten beginning 4ith

G!ear %oI #his too a 4hole ne4 meaning to thescreenplay 2/

'nre !ugger3 PatricFs pastor3 share3 G6e can4rite letters to %o as a form of praying as easily as4e can tal to ;im O6ith the letters 4e can beremine of our eepest3 arest times an beremine of ho4 %o 4ale 4ith us an blesse usIPatric share his esire for the vie4ers to ra4 fromthe movie Ghope for one thing Just the inspiration #yler e$ue from his love for Christ an the positive

outloo on life=that there is more to life than the ailygrin Eamily is important %o is important 'n thereis so much more after this lifeI 2

"ut 4hat really happens 4hen 4e ieH Can 4e talto the e- ceaseH (s there hope for the ones 4e love4ho alreay passe a4ayH Can 4e pay an pray forthem so that their souls 4oul not burn in hell but gostraight to heavenH

7cclesiastes 121 tells us3 G%o shall bring every

4or into 9ug- ment3 4ith every secret thing3 4hetherit be goo3 or 4hether it be evilI GX%oY 4ill rener toevery man accoring to his eesI :o- mans 2.G"ut ( say unto you3 that every ile 4or that menshall spea3 they shall give account thereof in the ayof 9ugmentI Mat- the4 12/. G"ut after thyharness an impenitent heart treasurest up untothyself 4rath against the ay of 4rath an revelationof the righteous 9ugment of %oL 4ho 4ill rener toevery man accoring to his eesO (n that ay %o

shall 9uge the secrets of men by Jesus ChristI:oman 253 .3 1. (n 2 #imothy 1 it says3 G( chargethee therefore before %o3 an the @or Jesus Christ34ho shall 9uge the Buic an the ea at hisappearing an his ingomI

#here are people 4ho believe that once a personies3 he or she 4oul be 9uge an 4oul be sent toheaven or to hell 'n those 4hose fates 4ere notecie yet3 their souls 4oul linger aroun 'n if thefamily can affor to bring a hansome inulgence3even the one 4hich 4as sent to hell can be ushere


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by St Peter straight into heaven (s there 9ustice inthisH 'n is this biblicalH )o an

2/ (bi

2 (bi

*

absolutely no #here is no biblical support to prove thisclaim nly 7noch3 Moses3 7li9ah3 an those 4ho 4ereresurrecte after ChristFs eath an resurrection%enesis 52L ;ebre4s 115L Jue *L Mar*13 3 5L 2 Kings 2113 1+L Matthe4 2+523 5/3 4ere

recore in the bible to have been brought to the thirheaven 'n as for the ea3 they no4 nothing3 nothought3 no memory 7cclesiastes *5 6hen %ocreate man3 ;e forme him from the ust3 Ganbreathe life into his nostrils the breath of lifeL anman became a living soulI %enesis 2+

"oy Z "reath of @ife W @ivingSoul

"oy [ "reath of @ife W !ea3 !ust3)o Soul

G#hen shall the ust return to the earth as it 4asan the spirit shall return unto %o 4ho gave itI7cclesiastes 12+ G#he boy 4ithout the spirit iseaI James 22. G#here is no 4or3 nor e- vice3nor no4lege3 nor 4isom3 in the grave3 4hither thou

goestI 7cclesiastes *10 #he argument about the parable of the rich manan @a?arus @ue 1.1*/1 has been taen out of conte$t Many use this parable to support theirsystem of belief on the state of the ea3 be- lievingthat 4hen the righteous ie3 lie @a?arus in theparable 4ill be carrie into 'brahamFs bosom3 an the4ice lie the rich man 4ill be brought to a burninghell Jesus taught 4ith parables to teach an impartlessons upon the hearts an mins of ;is hearers

Je4s 4ho revere their father 'braham3 4ere beinggiven highest honors to be spiritually fille an calle


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chilren of %o3 to partae in the 4or of the gospel tospiritually impoverishe %entiles G( 4ill also give theelight to the %entiles3 that thou mayest be my salvationunto the en of the earthI (saiah *. #he parable

of the rich man an @a?arus sho4e the ifferencebet4een the rich man 4ho hoare the truth3 callingupon his father 'braham3 an @a?arus 4ho 4as poorin spirit G"ut 4oe unto you that are richN for ye havereceive your consolation 6oe unto you that are fullNfor ye shall hunger 6oe unto you that laugh no4N forye shall mourn an 4eepI @ue .2325 "ut the blessing ha been pronounce prior inMatthe4 5/. G"lesse are the poor in spirit fortheirs is the ingom of heaven "lesse are they that

morn for they shall be comforteO "lesse

50

are they 4hich o hunger an thirst for righteousnessfor they shall be filleI @a?arusF an JesusFresurrection prove that their boies ha not comefrom heaven nor hell3 but 4ere lai to rest in the graveuntil they came to life again by the breath of %oJohn1115L @ue215/L John 203 21

#he bible tells us in 7cclesiastes 12+3 G#hen shall the ustreturn

to the earth as it 4as an the spirit shall return unto%o 4ho gaveitI 's it is 4ritten in %enesis 2+3 G'n the @or %oforme man of

the ust of the groun3 an breathe into his nostrilsthe breath of lifeL an man became a living soulI 7cclesiastes *53. clearly statesthe conition of the ea GEor the living no4 thatthey shall ie butthe ea no4 not any thing3 neither have they anymore a re4arLfor the memory of them is forgotten 'lso their love3an their hatre3an their envy3 is no4 perisheL neither have they any


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more a portionfor ever in any thing that is one unerthe sunI

Eour ays after @a?arus ie3 Jesus 4ent to raise him up3 an

sai3Gur frien @a?arus sleepethL but ( go3 that ( maya4ae him out of sleepI John 1111 #his unerstaning of eath as asleep3 reamlessan 4ithout consciousness of time3 stronglyharmoni?es 4ith the res-urrection of the righteous at ChristFs secon coming3an the resur-rection of the 4ice after the millennium Christ ha

sai3 GMarvelnot at this for the hour is coming3 in the 4hich allthat are in thegraves shall hear his voice3 an shall come forthL theythat have onegoo3 unto the resurrection of lifeL an they that haveone evil3 untothe resurrection of amnationI John 52,3 2* GEorthe @or himself

shall escen from heaven 4ith a shout3 4ith thevoice of the archan-gel3 an 4ith the trump of %o an the ea in Christshall rise firstthen 4e 4hich are alive an remain shall be caughtup together 4iththem in the clous3 to meet the @or in the air an soshall 4e everbe 4ith the @orI 1 #hessalonians1.3 1+

Eirst Corinthians 15513 52 clearly states3 G"ehol3 ( she4you amysteryL 4e shall not all sleep3 but 4e shall all bechange3 in a mo-ment3 in the t4inling of an eye3 at the last trumpfor the trumpetshall soun3 an the ea shall be raiseincorruptible3 an 4e shallbe changeI 6hat hope for those 4ho ie in the@or3 an for those4ho continue to live for


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;imN #he story of 74ar Euge cast in the film Hell and &r$7ud#e

truly brings the message home ;e lost his frien

4hen he 4as 13an since then ha been asing if his frien 4asreally burning inhell ;e 4onere 4hether a loving %o 4oulreally allo4 that

51

;is research brought him to the funamental truths of

the "ible ;e learne of the 9ust an mercifulcharacter of %o3 for %o 9uges righteously accoringto every 4or of man 25

(n Mr EugeFs pursuit to fin some ans4ers3 helearne of the "ibleFs most consistent vie4 on hell3the consuming fire 2.3 2+3 2, #he traitional vie4revolves aroun the belief that the fire torments for-ever 'n the conitionalist vie43 the fire thatpurifies2* #he result of his years of stuy 4aspublishe in the boo The 7ire That -onsumes3 a eep

theological an historical stuy on final punishment3an Hell6 ! 7inal Word3 a shorter version for laypeople /0

Erom the l #estament to the )e4 #estament3 the"ible has al- 4ays been consistent on this sub9ect of hell (t eclares in ;ebre4s122*3 Gur %o is a consuming fireIL an in!euteronomy 23 G#he @or thy %o is a consumingfire3 even a 9ealous %oI

%ree philosophy eventually influence thefounation of Chris- tian belief on the sub9ect of

immortality of the soul /1 (f you o not receiveeternal life3 you 4ill suffer eternal amnation3 to beburne forever in hell "ut this octrine is not foun inthe "ible So 4hat is the en of the 4iceH !eathProverbs 112 states3 G#here is a 4ay 4hich seemethright unto a man3 but the en thereof are the 4ays of eathI GEor the 4ages of sin is eathL but the gift of

%o is eternal life through Jesus Christ our @orI:omans .2/ :evelation 21+3 , enlightens us on


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the sub9ect even more G;e that overcometh shallinherit all thingsL an ( 4ill be his %o3 an he shall bemy son "ut the fearful3 an unbelieving3 an theabominable3 an murerers3 an 4horemongers3 an

sorcerers3 an iolaters3 an all liars3 shall have theirpart in the lae 4hich burneth 4ith fire an brimstone4hich is the secon eathI Einal estruction ane$tinction is 4ell escribe in Jue + G7ven as Sooman %omorrah3 an the cities25 Hell and &r$ 7ud#e3 JeD 6oo3 2012

2. (bi

2+ 74ar Euge3 The 7ire That -onsumes6 ! Biblical and Historical %tudy of the8octrine of 9ternal Punishment "loomington3 () iniverse3 2000

2, 74ar Euge3 Hell6 ! 7inal Word 'bilene3 #\ @eaf4oo Publishers3 20122* (bi3 (bi

/0 (bi3 (bi

/1 (bi

52

about them in lie manner3 giving themselves over tofornication3 an going after strange flesh3 are setforth for an e$ample3 suffering the vengeance of eternal fireI GEor3 behol3 the ay cometh3 that shallburn as an ovenL an all the prou3 yea3 an all thato 4icely3 shall be stubble an the ay that comethshall burn them up3 saith the @or of hosts3 that itshall leave them neither root nor branchO 'n yeshall trea o4n the 4iceL for they shall be ashesuner the soles of your feet in the ay that ( shall o

this3 saith the @or of hostsI Malachi 13 / #heboies of the 4ice 4ill be consume #here are several boos in heaven that recor our

life here on earth the boo of life3 the boo of remembrance3 the boo of recors3 an the boo of sins :omans 112 an Matthe4 12/. clearly saythat everyone 4ill give an account of his 4ors anees in the ay of 9ugment !aniel +10 says3 G'fiery stream issue an came forth from before himthousan thousans ministere unto him3 an tenthousan times ten thousan stoo before him the


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9ugment 4as set3 an the boos 4ere openeI #he 9ugment of %o is goo an righteous :omans 22states3 G"ut 4e are sure that the 9ugment of %o isaccoring to truth against them 4hich commit such

thingsI 'n 4e have Jesus on our sie3 our perfect;eavenly ;igh Priest ;ebre4s+222, above every earthly priestL our Meiator;ebre4s ,.10 4ho pleas our caseL our Juge 2Corinthians 510L :omans 110 4hose 9ugmentseat the Eather has givenL an our surety 6e rea in(saiah //223 GEor the @or is our 9uge3 the @or is ourla4giver3 the @or is our ingL he 4ill save usI 6rittenin :omans ,13 G#here is therefore no4 noconemnation to them 4hich are in Christ Jesus3 4ho

4al not after the flesh3 but after the SpiritI #he 4ay 4e live our lives is the most important

letter 4e can 4rite to %o3 for our life is an open booto ;im ;e reas our lives 4ith utmost care ansensitivity 6e are to bear the fruit of the ;oly Spiritas name in %alatians 5223 2/3 Glove3 9oy3 peace3longsuffer- ing3 gentleness3 gooness3 faith3meeness3 temperance against such there is no la4I

#hough others may not hear of your misery3 ;e

hears you th- ers may not see the sorro4 in yourheart3 but ;e sees an unerstans 4hat youFregoing through )o one else unerstans lie Jesus34ho bore the sin of this 4orl an pai its ransom )oone else can lift the buren from your heart lie ;eoes

5/

ur Saviour ienti8e ;imself 4ith our neesan 4eaness3 in that ;e became a suppliant3 apetitioner3 seeing from ;is Eather fresh suppliesof strength3 that ;e might come forth brace foruty an trial ;e is our e$ample in all things ;eis a brother in our in8rmities3 in all pointstempte lie as 4e areF but as the sinless one;is nature recoile from evilL ;e enurestruggles an torture of soul in a 4orl of sin


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6hite3 %teps to -hrist 3 pp */3 *

6e have a living hope in Christ Jesus3 our Savioran @or 6e have surety in ;im #he psalmist sai3

G#he @or is my roc3 an my fortress3 an myelivererL my %o3 my strength3 in 4hom ( 4ill trustLmy bucler3 an the horn of my salvation3 an myhigh to4erI Psalm1,2 G@et not your heart be trouble ye believe in%o3 believe also in me (n my EatherFs house aremany mansions if it 4ere not so3 ( 4oul have tolyou ( go to prepare a place for you 'n if ( go anprepare a place for you3 ( 4ill come again3 an receiveyou unto my- selfL that 4here ( am3 there ye may be

also 'n 4hither ( go ye no43 an the 4ay yeno4O Peace ( leave 4ith you3 my peace ( give untoyou not as the 4orl giveth3 give ( unto you @et notyour heart be trouble3 neither let it be afraiI John113 2+

5


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Read the

Letterhe spurne grauation gift is a remarable storyto tell ' young man visite a car ealership 4ithhis father ;e esire to have a sports car 4ith ametallic re finish (t 4as right be-

fore him Kno4ing that his father coul 4ell affor ithe tol him3 he 4ante nothing else in the 4orl butthat sports car

;is grauation came 'n he ha been 4aiting forthat eventful ay ;is father calle him to his privatestuy an hane him a small gift3 carefully anbeautifully 4rappe ;e 4as all e$cite3 as he ne4 9ust 4hat to e$pect "ut he became suenlyisappointe 4hen he foun a blac leather "ible 4ithhis name embosse in gol #hereFs no eyN hethought ;e blurte out3 G6ith all the money youhave3 this is only 4hat you can give meHI ;e thre4

the small pacage on the floor3 rage out of thehouse3 an inFt loo bac


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Charles #aylor tol a captivating story of this youngman name ;arol 6ilson/2 ;arol lost his father4hen he 4as eight ;e gre4 up 4ith so manyBuestions 4hy his father ie of illness an if

/2 Charles #aylor3 The &ared Bible )ampa3 (! Paci8cPress Publishing 'ssocia- tion3 1***

55

%o i really hear him


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4ith ;is life an thre4 the "ible overboar 'n the4aves covere ;is motherFs gift3 pulling it o4n to thebottom of the sea


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to impress upon his heart the 4ors of life 'n thisbecame the very mission of ;arol3 to sprea thegoo ne4s of salvation ;is motherFs prayer 4asans4ere an her loving letter prove that the

promises of %o are true@ong ago3 %o lovingly 4rote ;is letter to us3ippe in re at the cross of Calvary 4here ;is onlybegotten Son ie3 to save humanity from sin aneath #he very nature of ;is love 4as manifeste insuch great sacrifice that no man can evercomprehen GEor %o so love the 4orl3 that hegave his only begotten Son3 that 4ho- soeverbelieveth in him shoul not perish3 but haveeverlasting lifeI John /1. ;e gave the best of

heaven (t is through Jesus Christ that the EatherFslove 4as ultimately teste3 but through ;is eath ;econBuere the 4orl3 an the hearts of many peoplelooing for a Savior ivine #he she of ChristFsreeeming bloo gave hope to the hopeless3 peace tothose 4ho 4ere restless3 mercy to the guilty3forgiveness to the faltering3 an love to the unlovableG;is mercy enureth foreverI Psalm 11,2 'n ;isultimate sacrifice is 4rit- ten to all humanity G6hile

4e 4ere yet sinners3 Christ ie for usI :omans 5,%o has a 4ay of moving in menFs hearts ancreating a vast impact in the life o

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Dear God, what am I supposed to do?